Final answer:
False. Criminal and civil penalties are not mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by the fact that both state and federal courts address issues under both areas of law, and individuals can face both criminal charges and civil lawsuits for the same act.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is false that criminal and civil penalties are mutually exclusive. Both state and federal courts handle matters involving criminal law, where the government charges an individual with a crime and seeks penalties such as jail time, and civil law, where private parties may seek damages or resolutions to disputes. Criminal and civil law are two distinct areas, yet a single act can give rise to both a criminal prosecution brought by the state and a civil lawsuit between private parties. For instance, the O.J. Simpson case demonstrates that a person acquitted in a criminal trial can still be held liable in a civil trial for related matters.